A suspected counterfeit medicine racket involving cancer drugs and other critical medicines is under investigation in Bengaluru, with authorities examining whether fake or repackaged products were supplied to more than 90 hospitals and clinics across the city.

A joint probe by the Bengaluru Police Special Investigation Team and the Drugs Control Department has led to the arrest of pharmacy owner Veeresh Kumar Jain. The investigation widened after officials recovered a large quantity of suspected counterfeit medicines during a raid at Krupa Healthcare near Minerva Circle.

Suspected Cancer And ICU Medicines Under Scanner

Investigators suspect the network supplied cancer medicines, life-saving drugs and injections used in intensive care to hospitals, clinics, medical shops and other healthcare establishments.

The medicines were allegedly offered at discounts of nearly 50 per cent, prompting investigators to examine the source, distribution network and authenticity of the products.

Authorities suspect Krupa Healthcare was used as a storage and distribution point from where the medicines were allegedly sent to medical shops, hospitals and clinics.

The SIT and the Drugs Control Department are now working to identify the healthcare establishments that may have received the suspected medicines and determine whether any counterfeit or repackaged products entered the supply chain.

Expired Medicines Allegedly Repackaged And Relabelled

According to investigators, the suspected racket involved procuring medicines at low prices, rebranding them under different names and selling them at higher rates.

Authorities are also investigating allegations that expired medicines were repackaged in fresh containers and fitted with counterfeit labels.

Some of the labels allegedly resembled the branding used by established pharmaceutical companies, investigators said.

The investigation is focused on determining the source of the medicines, how they were repackaged and the route through which they were allegedly supplied to healthcare facilities.

SIT Examines Possible Interstate Network

Police are also examining whether the suspected operation extended beyond Karnataka.

More than 15 medical representatives are suspected of helping facilitate the transportation or distribution of the medicines, according to investigators.

Vamsi Krishna, Joint Commissioner of Police (West) and head of the SIT, said the full extent of the network was yet to be established.

Investigators are examining bank transactions, purchase and sale records and other documents recovered during the investigation to trace both the movement of the suspected medicines and the flow of money.

Police suspect Veeresh Kumar had been operating the firm for around five years.

Investigators have also linked him to Prashant, whom they have identified as a key accused and the suspected kingpin of the network.

Prashant is absconding, and police teams are searching for him. Veeresh Kumar remains the only person arrested in the case so far.

Rs 5 Crore Seizure Triggered Wider Investigation

The investigation is linked to an August 18 raid at a farmhouse in the Bidadi and Dodderi areas of Bengaluru South district, where authorities seized suspected counterfeit medicines worth around Rs 5 crore.

The seizure also included fake invoices, injection-filling equipment and counterfeit labels.

Following the raid, investigators expanded their operation and carried out coordinated searches at more than 10 locations across Karnataka, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

Those searches subsequently led investigators to Krupa Healthcare and Veeresh Kumar.

The SIT and the Drugs Control Department are continuing their investigation to establish the full scale of the suspected racket, trace its possible interstate links and identify hospitals, clinics and other medical establishments that may have received the suspected counterfeit medicines.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share